In Oakland, knowing how to spot these signs of medical neglect can better equip families to hold nursing homes accountable through legal action.

Signs of medical neglect in nursing homes may include untreated injuries, poor hygiene, and missed medications.

Taking action against these issues quickly is the best way to defend your loved ones’ rights and well-being.

Educating yourself on the process for pursuing legal recourse helps ensure that families are able to hold facilities accountable and seek justice for any medical neglect that occurs.

What Is Medical Neglect?

Definition of Medical Neglect

Medical neglect occurs when a nursing home does not provide appropriate care for a resident’s medical condition, resulting in further decline and harm. Americans have had to stop taking necessary medications and put off treatment for serious health issues. Some neglect to provide appropriate medical equipment, like oxygen tanks or mobility aids.

For instance, a diabetic resident might experience serious harm if the staff fails to ensure their blood sugar is checked on a daily basis. The impact of medical neglect can indeed be life-changing, frequently leaving residents vulnerable to infections, injuries, or even premature death. Unfortunately, abused seniors are at a significantly greater risk of dying—three times greater within 10 years—than their counterparts.

How Medical Neglect Differs From Abuse

Medical neglect may be more difficult to address than physical or emotional abuse. Rather than creating direct harm, it’s the result of a failure to act. This means failing to protect a resident from harm or failing to meet a resident’s needs.

Where abuse usually has some sort of malicious intent behind it, such as physical harm, neglect can be a byproduct of systemic issues such as understaffing. Both cases though can result in serious harm, even preventable injuries or worsening illnesses. For example, a resident could get preventable pressure sores as a result of neglect, but abuse would mean the bruise was intentional.

Understanding these distinctions allows families to act quickly to protect the ones they love.

Common Causes of Medical Neglect

Far too often, a leading contributor to medical neglect is understaffing. When nursing homes don’t have enough caregivers, residents can’t receive care in a timely manner. For example, a staff person might fail to administer medication at the proper time because their workload was too burdensome to manage.

The second major problem is lack of training. Staff who are not properly trained on residents’ medical conditions or equipment can inadvertently lead to neglectful care. Budget constraints are a factor, limiting access to proper personal protective equipment and other supplies or resources.

Without enough funding, facilities are forced to skimp on care, putting residents at risk of neglectful practices. These systemic challenges underline how imperative it is to remain vigilant and to advocate for the care we deserve.

Types of Neglect in Nursing Homes

Medical Neglect and Its Consequences

In a nursing home, medical neglect may be denying needed medical treatment to residents, letting their medical issues deteriorate over time. When left untreated, bedsores can quickly develop into serious infections. Not having access to their daily medications for chronic conditions such as diabetes can have fatal results.

On a more chronic level, this type of neglect can reduce a resident’s quality of life, causing them preventable pain or impairing their ability to move around. When facilities fail to provide appropriate care, they hurt their residents. They risk incurring extreme legal liability for not treating conditions they know about in violation of state and federal law.

Emotional and Social Neglect

Emotional neglect is the failure to acknowledge or address a resident’s emotional needs or provide social interaction. This can have the effect of making people feel lonely, sad, or fearful during a particularly fragile time in life.

Without that constellation of supports, the mental health starts to go and then physical health deteriorates, too. Daily engagement with purpose and connection is key to making sure residents don’t feel like a statistic.

Neglect of Basic Needs

Those basic needs are not just food or cleanliness or security. Failure to provide these basic necessities can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, or other infections.

Neglecting cleanliness can lead to potentially serious infections, such as urinary tract infections due to unsanitary conditions. Nursing homes should be providing these basic, fundamental, and legally mandated needs to preserve residents’ health and dignity.

Neglect Due to Understaffing

One of the main causes of neglect is understaffing. When there are not enough caregivers for the number of residents, residents wait longer for help and suffer preventable accidents such as falls or go without meals.

Studies have consistently found that adequate staffing ratios have a direct positive impact on the quality of care. Thus, ensuring nursing homes have enough staff is absolutely essential to avoiding neglect.

Signs of Medical Neglect

1. Physical Indicators of Neglect

Medical neglect typically presents with physical indicators. Signs of medical neglect to watch for include unexplained weight loss, untreated injuries, malnutrition, bedsores, or infections.

For instance, if a nursing home resident develops a pressure ulcer despite having received adequate preventative care, that could be a sign of neglect. Taking pictures, keeping a log with dates, times, and a detailed description of the occurrences will aid in documenting a case.

Careful observation of any changes that are apparent makes sure that everything big and small is accounted for. Not providing necessary medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, is another form of neglect.

2. Behavioral Changes in Residents

Sudden changes in behavior, such as withdrawal, anxiety, or aggression, can be signs of medical neglect. Further, emotional distress usually results from a lack of needs being met or care being provided.

For instance, a once-cheerful resident who has grown withdrawn or paranoid should raise alarm bells. Caregivers must stay active and observant to these indicators and encourage open dialogue with residents to help alleviate worries.

3. Warning Signs in Facility Operations

Facility operations impact quality of care. Examples may include high staff turnover, unsanitary conditions, or a poorly maintained environment.

Staff who lack appropriate training will find it difficult if not impossible to respond to residents’ medical needs. Transparency in daily operations would go a long way toward ensuring the safety and trust of riders.

4. Staff Behavior and Attitudes

Staff approaches to care and providers’ medical treatment can indicate the quality of care. A dismissive or impatient demeanor can be a sign of poor quality care.

Compassionate and well-trained staff foster a positive environment too, where respect for residents’ dignity and health is always the first priority. For instance, failing to respond to a resident’s call light might expose an ongoing pattern of abuse.

5. Recurring Health Issues or Injuries

Frequent health issues, such as infections or unexplained/recurring injuries, are signs of chronic neglect. For example, infections may become more severe due to lack of treatment.

It is important for families to be aware of these patterns and fight for appropriate medical care.

Factors That Increase Vulnerability

Why Some Residents Are More at Risk

Specific disabilities, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s, increase residents’ susceptibility to neglect. For instance, an individual experiencing memory loss might forget to seek assistance or indicate their pain.

Social isolation is another factor that increases vulnerability. Residents who lack regular visitors or a strong social support network are more likely to face neglect as there’s no one there to fight for their needs.

Consistent monitoring and careful attention to behavior and mood can safeguard these unique people. For example, having staff who can monitor residents can identify problems like missed meals or lack of hygiene before they escalate.

Role of Staff Training and Resources

Staff trained in trauma-informed practice are better prepared to address the unique needs of residents and avoid lapsing into neglect. For example, staff trained in fall prevention can make sure handrails are bolted in place or wet floors are properly signed.

Adequate resources—such as robust staffing levels and medical resources—are key in ensuring quality patient care. Regular education is important to ensure that every staff person is up to date on the best practices, maximizing the quality.

Impact of Facility Budget Constraints

However, budget constraints too frequently result in understaffing, leaving residents in their care vulnerable. Less staff means that it takes longer to reposition residents, which can cause deep bedsores.

Less money can equate to less safety improvements, such as including widely spaced street furniture to protect pedestrians. Sufficient budgets help keep our nursing homes safe and prevent neglect by ensuring there is enough staff to provide quality care.

Reporting Nursing Home Neglect

How to Recognize When to Report

Neglect can manifest in a variety of forms, and understanding when to take action is crucial. Here are some common signs: unexplained injuries like bruises or fractures, poor hygiene, dehydration, malnutrition, or sudden emotional changes.

If a loved one is acting uncharacteristically withdrawn or fearful, this may indicate neglect. If you see any of these warning signs, trust your gut. Families need to prioritize the safety of their loved one each and every time.

Steps to File a Complaint in Oakland

• Take notes on everything that happens and record dates, times, and detailed descriptions of what you experience and witness.
• Take pictures of injuries, unsafe conditions, or anything relevant.
• Contact your local Ombudsman’s office or Adult Protective Services to make a report.
• Follow up to ensure action is being taken.

Agencies to Contact for Assistance

Reach out to Oakland’s Ombudsman office or state licensing agencies for assistance.

Resources for Families and Victims

• Support groups
• Legal help
• Advocacy organizations